麻豆约拍

Good morning.听 When something terrible happens to us, we usually want to know why.听听 If someone is to blame for our suffering, then we want them to be brought to justice and we want answers.听听

Forty years ago today, the 8.37 train from Drayton Park to Moorgate was packed with commuters going to work when it overshot the platform, and ploughed into a dead-end tunnel, killing the driver and 42 other people.听

To this day, the cause of the crash has never been found听 - the driver was known to be experienced, careful and conscientious, and no problems were found with the train, the signalling equipment or the track.

I imagine that the lack of answers has made it much harder for both survivors and relatives of victims to come to terms with what happened that fateful morning.听听听

Often there鈥檚 a wider need to know what happened in such an event so that we can try to make sure that it never happens again, and in fact, after the Moorgate crash, new safety measures were introduced on the London Underground.

No doubt, the uncertainty has created much anguish for everybody concerned and, as in other tragedies where the cause can鈥檛 be ascertained, it must be very hard for those affected to find closure. But even in less tragic circumstances we all want our world to be ordered and safe; we seek for reason behind events, and when we can鈥檛 find it, we feel insecure.

听

Father God, we pray this morning for all those who have suffered, and lost those they love, in tragic accidents. We pray for all who grieve in situations where they can鈥檛 find closure, that they will experience your loving arms around them, finding the courage to journey on the road towards healing and through the power of love shown through the kindness of others. We ask this in the name of your Son.听 Amen.